SALVADOR REBELS MAKE GAINS AND U.S. ADVISERS ARE GLUM

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP88B00443R001404100136-5
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 21, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 10, 2008
• Sequence Number: 136
• Publication Date: November 4, 1983
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

Approved For Release 2008/06/10: CIA-RDP88B00443RO01404100136-5
THE NEW YORK TIMES - 4 November 1983
Salvador Rebels -A-4-ake Gains
And U.S. Advisers Are Glum.
SAN SALVADOR, Nov. 3 - Leftist
insurgents have taken the initiative in
the tour-year-old civil war. killing
more than 800 Salvadoran soldiers in
the last two monthspt 40D greatly extending and
con-
tested zone, according to United States
military advisers here.
The advisers said that since the sum-
mer, when they ed a lull in
fighting as a sign that the army had im-
proved its fighting ability, the guerril-
las had launched attacks against more
than 60 towns from central El Salvador
to the Honduran border.
By LYD1A CHAVEZ
Sf14mT1,N&wywkT1mr
dives are making one hell of a chal-
lenge? of whom say
The advisers, many
81re discouraged and anxious to
The problem was complicated when
two companies sent wto reinforce the
ere ambushed
troops in Tejutepeque
on the way.
A simillar sitution evolved on Mon-
day in Ciudad Barrios, a town of 20,000
in the eastern province of San Miquel.
The town was defended by some 80 na-
tional guardsmen, and unwittihours
ngly
after the allack ttack began
headedtoWard guerrilla territory.
"It doesn't look like there was much
effort to keep the place," another mili-
tary?advisersaid. '
Reladorcemems Purred Down
Two companies sent to reinforce the
national guardsmen were pinned down
by an ambush less than a mile from
from their starting point- The compa-
re-
nies were from six weeks of
cently returned
from training at the new American-staffed
training base in Honduras.
Military advisers are further wor-
ried because the guerrillas are slowly
encroaching on San Vicente, which has
been billed as the make-it-or-break-it
example of what the Salvadoran mih-
tary is capable of doing.
The San Vicente prog~la~
by American military designed to show that the army could and then
rid a province Of guerrillas the Gov-
ernment the population hile
ernment undertook redevelopment
programs-
improve-
There of have been signs
ment in San Vicente since the plan
began in June, but already two towns
have been attacked and many of
guerrillas who left before the offensive
began have returned.
finish their assignments here, have ex-
pressed discouragement with' the
army's inability to overcome its com-
mand problems and with setbacks to an
operation in San Vicente planned and
monitored by the Americans-
uerrillas have the initiative
4.
t` e g
now, m one can question that," one ad-
k his head
viser said. Another just shoo
in agreement when asked it he would
recommend that the United States pur-
sue a political solution more diligently.
since September, they
said, has affected nine of the country's In the past, military advisers critr
sized the army's 24,000 men for staying
14 provinces. in their barracks and not patrolling the
? Army's Problems Persist countryside. Now the complaint is that
while they are in the field, they are
The advisers added that the incur- dying in one place and not pursuing
gents often met little resistance from the 7,000 guerrillas or setting ambu-
the Salvadoran Army. The army. they sties.
said, seemed to be struggling with the The army's tactical deficiencies
same problems that have plagued it have been aggravated by political ten-,
=
over the last four years: low morale, lions within the high command. Ameri
weak logistical support and divisions can Embassy officials were hoping this
among its commanders. week for coanges that would eliminate
Some troops have fled their positions some of the ineffective field and staff
without putting up a fight, the advisers commanders as well as some men con.
said. As a result, the advisers are now nested with death squad activities.
painting a gluey picture of the scum- But the only changes in orders issuer
try's military situation. Tuesday were insignificant ones at the
They said guerrilla gains had in ef- u nior officer level.
Perhaps most demoralizing to Salva-
test opened a northern corridor from junior
central El Salvador to the east. Before loran Army officers and American ad.
September, guerrilla forces had to take visers has been two recent battles in
a roundabout route from their bases in which army showce
willinganess, to lot up the central province of Cuseatldn to sending reinforce-
Morazdn province in the east. Now they and had difficulty '
can move virtually unimpeded straight meats. Sunday* the guerrillas. attacked
across northern El Salvador. Tejuut pe . a town of g,000 people
The
f uierrlilas More Mob11e some 37, miles north of by the 180 capitaL
soldiers.
Moreover, military advisers said, town as red to the nearby town
the guerrillas are more unified, have o obe.w and changed into civilian
better intelligence and are much more clothes, according to military advisers*
mobile than they were before the sum- "A 180-man unit in a defense position
mer, moving in daylight by trucks should be able to hold out if they have
rather than at night on foot. their positions and stay and fight,.' one
..They sure are conducting them- adviser said.
selves in a very effective manner' one
American adviser. said. "The subver-
Approved For Release 2008/06/10: CIA-RDP88B00443RO01404100136-5